Food containers with transponders

ABSTRACT

Food and beverage containers with attached or connected transponders. In one embodiment, relatively inexpensive passive transponders are used and are embedded or otherwise attached to the food and beverage containers. A transponder exciter is placed in or near the food or beverage dispenser for energizing the transponder on the food or beverage container, and for discerning information therefrom. Alternatively, active transponders can be used and an non-exciter reader can be used. The information from the containers can be used to track the containers and control the amount of consumable material with which the containers are filled, the number of times the containers are filled, and the type of material with which the containers are filled.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/657,496, filed Sep. 8, 2000, which claims the benefit of provisionalapplication No. 60/153,172 filed on Sep. 9, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to food and beverage dispensing devices.More particularly, the invention relates to automated food and beveragedispensers and containers for use with same.

2. Description of Related Art

Automated beverage dispensers have been developed for conservingbeverage and increasing the productivity of the operator. One suchautomated beverage dispensing apparatus incorporates a bar code readerfor discerning information pertaining to a beverage to be dispensed intoa container. An automated beverage dispenser of this general nature isshown, by way of example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,732.

However, optical systems have several deficiencies. Optical bar codereaders can suffer from misalignment of the bar code on the containerwith the bar code reader of the dispenser. This is true even whenmultiple bar codes encircling the container are used. In addition,multiple barcodes are aesthetically unappealing.

Another problem with barcode systems is that the optical recognition isoften compromised by optical occlusions of the bar code, such as, forexample, a finger of a user, a food particle, or a napkin. Thus, therecontinues to be a need for delivering and/or dispensing food andbeverages with increased accuracy, effectiveness, and efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides food and beverage containers with attached orconnected transponders. In one embodiment, relatively inexpensive,passive transponders are embedded in or otherwise attached to the foodand beverage containers. A transponder exciter is placed in or near afood or beverage dispenser for energizing the transponder on the food orbeverage container and for discerning information therefrom. The foodand beverage containers and transponders of the invention do not sufferfrom misalignment problems, since any placement of the food or beveragecontainer, regardless of container orientation within the field of thetransponder reader or, near the transponder reader exciter, results in atransfer of information. Similarly, a hand of a user, a napkin, food, orother materials placed over the transponder will not hinder the transferof information between the transponder and the transponder reader. Thetransponder can be completely concealed from the sight of a user, thusincreasing the aesthetic appearance of the food or beverage container.

In one aspect of the invention, the containers are constructed to hold aconsumable material, such as at least one of a food and a beverage. Thecontainer further includes a transponder attached or connected to thebody. The transponder is constructed to receive a radio frequency (RF)excitation signal and, in response, to emit an RF response signal.Alternatively, the transponder can have its own power source andtransmit the RF response signal on a continuous or periodic basis. Thebody of the container can include, for example, a paper-based foodreceptacle, a paper-based beverage receptacle, a plastic-basedreceptacle or cup, such as a polystyrene or Styrofoam cup, or othercontainers comprising glass, ceramic or metal. The body has an outsidesurface and an inside surface, wherein the inside surface is adapted tocontact the consumable material, e.g., food or beverage, and thetransponder is attached or connected, for example, to the outsidesurface of the body. Alternatively, the transponder can be embeddedwithin the material.

The RF transponder signal can relate to a type of consumable material,for example, food or beverage, to be included or dispensed into thebody. The RF response signal can also contain information relating to aplurality of types of consumable material, for example, food orbeverage, to be placed or sequentially placed into the body. The RFresponse signal can further relate to a quantity or amount of consumablematerial, for example, food or beverage, to be placed or automaticallyplaced into the body. The RF response signal can relate to the typeand/or amount of consumable material to be dispensed or delivered and/orthe sequence in which a plurality of such materials are to be dispensedor delivered. For example, the RF signal can relate to the type andamount and delivery sequence of a plurality of different types ofcondiments to be placed on an item of food, such as a sandwich.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a dispensingapparatus for filling a container includes a transponder exciter, asignal receiver, and a dispenser. The transponder exciter is constructedto generate and transmit an RF excitation signal that is adapted toenergize the transponder. The signal receiver is constructed to receivean RF transponder signal from the transponder, which is connected orattached or coupled to a container. The dispenser is operatively coupledto the signal receiver, and is constructed to dispense a predeterminedamount or quantity and quality of a consumable material, for example, atleast one of a food and a beverage, in response to the reception of theRF transponder signal by the signal receiver. The signal receiver isconstructed to receive RF transponder signals similar in nature andcontent to the RF transponder signals discussed above. The dispensingapparatus can further include an alignment device constructed toaccommodate and align a container relative to the dispensing apparatus.The dispenser apparatus can maintain a record of each container in whichconsumable materials is dispensed. The system can be programmed to limitthe number of dispensations that occur.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description, examples, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a beverage dispenser and beverage containercombination including an excitation reader and a transponder;

FIG. 2a illustrates a transaction device and food container combinationincluding an excitation reader and transponder;

FIG. 2b illustrates an excitation reader and a food containercombination including a food dispenser and a food container;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an excitationreader/writer;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of atransponder;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of atransponder;

FIGS. 6-9 comprise a flow chart illustrating a first method of theinvention; and

FIGS. 10-12 comprise a flow chart illustrating a second method of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a block diagramillustrating a beverage dispenser 10 electrically coupled to reader 12which in the embodiment shown is an excitation reader, and a beveragecontainer 14 coupled to a transponder 16. The beverage dispenser 10 andthe excitation reader 12 comprise a beverage dispensing system 20, andthe beverage container 14 and the transponder 16 comprise a beveragereceiving system 22.

The transponder 16 preferably comprises a radio frequency (RF)transponder. RF transponder systems are typically used for providingcommunication links between remote locations without direct physicalcontact therebetween. As used herein, RF means that portion of theelectromagnetic spectrum that is between the audio-frequency portion andthe infrared portion.

The excitation reader 12 generates an RF excitation signal 25 andtransmits it to the transponder 16. The transponder 16 receives the RFexcitation signal 25 and is energized thereby, resulting in thetransponder 16 generating a data signal 27 for transmission back to theexcitation reader 12. The data signal 27 can indicate to the excitationreader 12 the size and/or type of beverage container 14, as well astransactional and payment information such as whether a fill-up ofbeverage into the beverage container 14 is authorized. Alternatively,the transponder 16 can be an active transponder with a power source suchas a battery. An active transponder does not require excitation orenergization from an exciter and continuously or periodically emits thedata signal 27. When an active transponder is used, an excitation readeris not required. A non-excitation reader will suffice.

The transponder 16 is preferably mounted on an underside of the beveragecontainer 14, which can comprise a paper-based material, polystyrene orStyrofoam material, plastic, or other materials. The transponder 16 can,alternatively, be embedded within the material of the beverage container14. The container 14 can be a disposable container, meaning that it canbe a container made of inexpensive materials such that the container canbe thrown away with little or no concern of the expense involved indoing so. However, the container 14 can also be a relatively expensivecontainer such as a mug, glass or the like that is reused numeroustimes, such as might occur in a restaurant or the like.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the transponder16 is affixed to the beverage container 14 at manufacture thereof, andis packaged for subsequent use. A vendor, selecting any of a variety ofcontainers, can place the selected container beneath the beveragedispensing system 20, for an automatic fill-up of the proper type andquantity of beverage in accordance with the data signal 27 transmittedby the transponder 16 to the excitation reader 12.

The data signal 27 can further include a unique serial number, which isread and remembered by the excitation reader 12, preventing subsequent,unauthorized fill-ups. In large sports venues or other arenas wherenumerous beverage dispensing systems 20 can be used, the beveragedispensing system 20 can be connected via telephone lines or othercommunications networks to a computer (not shown) which monitors theoperations of all of the beverage dispensing systems 20. The computercan provide cumulative sales information for the entire facility. As anexample, a list of container serial numbers can be stored in thecomputer so that a serving container from one beverage stand can notsubsequently be refilled at another beverage stand.

Similarly, for single beverage dispensing systems 20, a computer can becoupled to the excitation reader 12 for maintaining a list in memory ofthe serial numbers of beverage containers 14 in which beverage hasalready been dispensed. An individual serial number, indicating interalia, size and make, can be maintained for each beverage container 14being used. In response to receiving the serial number read from thetransponder 16, the computer determines whether that particular serialnumber is already in the list. If the serial number is already in thelist maintained by the computer, the dispensing of beverage into thatbeverage container 14 can be inhibited. Accordingly, an attempt torefill a beverage container 14 in which beverage was previously sold isprevented. The list can be cleared each day prior to commencingoperation. If the serial number of the beverage container 14 is not inthe computer's memory, then the serial number is added commensurate intime with the filling of the beverage container.

Excitation reader 12 preferably reads information from the data signal27 indicative, for example, of a size of the beverage container 14. Thesize information can be used, for example, to determine how long of atime interval beverage is to be dispensed into the beverage container14. For example, a look-up table and memory within the computer canprovide the fill-time intervals for each of a number of variouscontainer sizes. The above discussion in connection with FIG. 1 isintended to apply to a large extent to the dispensing of any consumablematerial, which can include foods as well.

In dispensing foods, it is often necessary to dispense a number ofvarious types of foods into a container in a predetermined sequence. Forexample, it can be desirable to automatically place various condimentson a sandwich in a predetermined fashion, according to a customer'srequest. FIG. 2a illustrates a food programming system 32 comprising atransaction device 34 and an excitation reader 36, and a food receivingsystem 39 comprising a food container 38 and a transponder 40. FIG. 2billustrates a food dispensing system 43 comprising a food dispenser 45and an excitation reader 47, and the food receiving system 39.

In accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 2a and 2 b, the transactiondevice 34 receives an order from a customer for a particular combinationof consumable materials, which can include food and/or beverages. In theillustrated embodiment, the consumable material includes food. Thetransaction device 34 can be programmed with the customer's order,either by a cash register, teller, or automatically, for example. A foodcontainer 38 is positioned beneath the excitation writer 36 forprogramming of the transponder 40. The excitation writer 36 generates anRF write signal 51 containing information relating to the customer'sorder, to be programmed into the transponder 40. The RF write signal 51is received by the transponder 40, causing the information from the RFwrite signal 51 to be stored within the transponder 40.

The food container 38 is subsequently moved to the food dispensingsystem 43 (FIG. 2b), wherein operation of the food dispenser 45,excitation reader 47, food container 38, and transponder 40 correspondgenerally to operation of the beverage dispenser 10, excitation reader12, beverage container 14, and transponder 16 of FIG. 1. A read signal55 from the excitation reader 47 energizes the transponder 40, causingthe transponder 40 to send a data signal 57, containing the customer'sorder, to the excitation reader 47.

The excitation reader 47 subsequently directs the food dispenser 45 toautomatically, or semi-automatically, prepare the customer's orderwithin the food container 38. In an alternative embodiment, the fooddispenser 45 comprises nothing more than visual and/or audibleinstructions to a food and/or beverage preparer, instructing the foodpreparer on the particulars for preparation of the customer's orderwithin the food container 38.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an excitationreader/writer 60 which can be used, for example, as an excitation reader12, an excitation writer 36, or an excitation reader 47. The excitationreader/writer 60 comprises three main functional units: anexciter/writer 62, a signal conditioner 64, and a demodulator/detector66.

The exciter/writer 62 comprises an AC signal source 70 followed by apower amplifier 72 that amplifies the signal generated by the AC signalsource 70 to provide a high current, high voltage reading or writingexcitation signal to a capacitor 74 and an antenna coil 76. Theinductance of the antenna coil 76 and the capacitance of the capacitor74 are selected to resonate at the excitation signal frequency so thatthe voltage across the antenna coil 76 is greater than the voltageoutput of the power amplifier 72. The AC signal source 70 provides thereading or writing excitation signal that can include write data to bewritten into a non-volatile memory 110 of the transponder 91 (FIG. 4).

The signal conditioner 64, which is also coupled to the antenna coil 76,serves to amplify the RF response signal generated by the transponder 91(FIG. 4). The signal conditioner 64 filters out the RF readingexcitation signal frequencies as well as other noise and undesiredsignals outside of the frequency range of the transponder 91 responsesignals. The signal conditioner 64 includes a first filter 66 thatpasses the RF reading response signal frequency returned from thetransponder 91. A first amplifier 68 increases the signal strength ofthe signal output by the first filter 66, and a second filter 71passively excludes the high energy at the excitation frequency. A secondamplifier 73 increases the signal strength of the second output by thesecond filter 71. The first and second filters 66 and 71 preferablyinclude a band pass filter and a band stop filter. The first filter 66and the second filter 71 can be switched, or a higher order filterproviding both band pass and band stop filtering functions can beemployed, as known in the art. Moreover, the first and second amplifiers68 and 73 can be combined into a single amplifier.

The signal conditioner 64 is coupled to a filter 76 of the demodulatorand detector 66, which further reduces the excitation signal energy. Thefilter 76 preferably comprises a low pass filter. The demodulator anddetector 66 further includes a demodulator 78 and a microcomputergenerally designated 81. The microcomputer 81 includes an input/outputinterface 83, a memory 85, and a microprocessor or control logic 87. Thedemodulator 78 can comprise an SK demodulator, for example, whichincludes a phase-locked loop circuit configured as a tone detector.

The demodulator 78 and the microcomputer 81 extract data from theresponse signal. To extract the data, digital signals are generated whenthe return signal from the transponder 91 shifts between twofrequencies, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.Other well-known means for transferring information can also be used.The timing of the transitions of the digital signals between the logiclevels or frequencies is detected. The information obtained by themicrocomputer 81 can be stored in the memory 85 or transferred to anoutput device 89 such as a display, a printer, a network, anothercomputer, or other devices or storage media. Other configurations of theexcitation reader/writer 60 are possible, as would be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, so long as the general functions of energizing thetransponder 91 with read and write signals are accomplished.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a first preferred embodiment of a transponder 91is illustrated in combination with the excitation reader/writer 60. Thetransponder 91 can be used for the transponder 16 of FIG. 1 or thetransponder 40 of FIGS. 2a-2 b, for example. The transponder 91 includesan analog front end 93 having inputs connected to an antenna coil 95, acapacitor 97, and a modulator 99, and having outputs connected to awrite decoder 101 and a bitrate generator 102. An output of the writedecoder 101 is connected to a first input of a mode register 104. Themode register 104 has outputs coupled to the modulator 99 and a logiccontroller 106. A second input of the mode register 104 is coupled to afirst output of the non-volatile memory 110. The first and secondoutputs of the controller 106 are coupled to a first input of thenon-volatile memory 110 and an input register 114 of the non-volatilememory 110, respectively. A voltage generator 116 has an output coupledto the input register 114.

The analog front end 93 generates power from the current induced on theantenna coil 95 by the RF reading or writing excitation signal, which isa magnetic field produced by the excitation reader/writer 60. The analogfront end 93 controls the data communications, one-way orbi-directional, with the excitation reader/writer circuit 60. The analogfront end 93 rectifies the AC coil voltage to generate a DC supplyvoltage to power the transponder 91 and extracts a clock signal from theAC coil voltage. By way of example, the analog front end 93 selectivelyswitches a load across the opposite nodes of the antenna coil 95 whentransmitting the response signal from the transponder 91 to theexcitation reader/writer 60. The analog front end 93 also detects afield gap that occurs when the excitation reader/writer circuit isattempting to write information into the non-volatile memory 110 duringthe writing mode. The controller 106 loads the mode register 104 withoperational data from the memory 110 after power-on and during readingto minimize errors. The controller 106 controls reading and writingaccess to the non-volatile memory 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, the bitrate generator 102 allows for theselection of bitrates, which are fractional portions of the frequency ofthe RF excitation signal. Typically, the bitrate generator can beconfigured to allow selection of any of the following bitrates: RF/8,RF/16, RF/32, RF/40, RF/50, RF/64, RF/100, and RF/128, where RF equalsthe frequency of the RF excitation signal. The write decoder 101determines whether a write data stream from the excitation reader/writer60 is valid. The voltage generator 116 generates a supply voltage forprogramming the non-volatile memory 110 during, for example, a writesignal. The mode register 104 can be configured to store the mode datefrom the non-volatile memory 110 and periodically refreshes the modedata during the reading mode, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention. The modulator 99 can be configured to allow for the selectionof various different modulation schemes for the reading response signalincluding, for example, frequency shift key (FSK); phase shift key(PSK); Manchester; bi-phase; and combinations thereof. The non-volatilememory 110 preferably comprises an EEPROM. In operation, the excitationreader/writer 60 transmits an excitation signal 120, which can be a readexcitation signal or a write excitation signal, to the transponder 91.The transponder 91 is energized by the excitation signal 120 and, in theevent of a read excitation signal, for example, transmits a responsesignal 122 back to the excitation reader/writer 60.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a transponder 138, which isconfigured as a read-only transponder. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, likeelements are designated with like reference numerals followed by theletter “a.” The transponder 138 can be used as a transponder 16 of FIG.1, for example.

FIGS. 6-9 comprise a flowchart illustrating a method of the presentinvention which generally corresponds to the structure shown in FIGS.2a-2 b. The method begins at step S100, and continues to step S102 wheretransaction information is received from the transaction device 34 intothe excitation writer 36. At step S104 the excitation writer 36generates a write signal, and at step S 106 the food container 38 isplaced into transmission range of the excitation writer 36. Aspreviously mentioned, a beverage container for holding the consumablematerials, such as beverage, or combination of food and beverage, can beused instead of the food container 38. At step 108, a write signal istransmitted from the excitation writer 36 to the transponder 40 of thefood container 38, and at step S110 the write signal is received intothe transponder 40. The transponder 40 is placed into a write mode atstep S112, and write information from the write signal 51 is placed intothe non-volatile memory of the transponder 40. Steps S102 through stepsS114 can occur, for example, at a cash register of a fast-food or otherrestaurant.

The programmed food container 38 is subsequently placed into a foodpreparation area, wherein the food container is positioned withintransmission range of the excitation reader 47 (step S116). Theexcitation reader 47 sends a read signal to the transponder 40 of thefood container 38 at step S118, and this read signal is received at stepS120. The transponder 40 is subsequently placed into a read mode at stepS122, and the write data is accessed from the non-volatile memory of thetransponder 40 at step S124. A response signal, which contains theaccessed write data, is generated at step S126 and sent to theexcitation reader 47 at step S128. The excitation reader 47 receives theresponse signal at step S130, and forwards the write data of theresponse signal to the food dispenser 45 at step S132. At step S134, thefood dispenser 45 dispenses consumables into the food container 38 inaccordance with the write signal that was originally generated by theexcitation writer 36. As previously mentioned, the food dispenser 45 canbe configured to automatically generate an entire entree, such as asandwich, in a fashion dictated by a customer's order. The fooddispenser 45 can place a combination of different entrees, possibly evenincluding a drink, into the food container 38, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

The flow chart set forth in FIGS. 10-12 corresponds to a method of theinvention that can be implemented by the systems depicted in FIG. 1. Themethod begins at step S136 and continues to step S138 where theexcitation reader 12 is provided in a reading mode. At step S140 theexcitation reader 12 generates a read signal, and at step S141 thebeverage (or food) container 14 is placed within range of the excitationreader 12. A read signal 25 is sent from the excitation reader 12 to thetransponder 16 at step S142, and the read signal 25 is received into thetransponder 16 at step S144. At step S146 the transponder 16 accessescontainer data from its non-volatile memory, and at step S148 thetransponder 16 generates a response signal, which contains the containerdata. This response signal 27 is sent at step S150, and is received intothe excitation reader 12 at step S152.

The excitation reader 12 forwards the container information, which cancontain information regarding a size of the container, a type ofconsumable material, such as a food or beverage, to be placed within thecontainer and information pertaining to whether the container isauthorized to be filled with food or beverage, for example, to thebeverage (or food) dispenser 10. In accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention, the container information can includeinstructions for preparing a particular entree, such as a sandwich, orfor preparing a combination of entrees and/or drinks within a container.At step S156 the dispenser dispenses consumables, which can include foodand/or drinks, into the container in accordance with the containerinformation forwarded by the excitation reader 12 to the dispenser 10.

As can be seen from the above, preferred embodiments of the inventionprovide methods and systems for filling and tracking food and/orbeverage containers.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A food or beverage container, comprising: a bodyconstructed to hold a consumable material; and a transponder connectedto the body, the transponder being constructed to emit an RF transpondersignal to a dispenser to automatically commence dispensing of theconsumable material, the RF transponder signal having information aboutthe consumable material including a predetermined quantity and qualityof the consumable material ordered by a customer and to be dispensed bythe dispenser, the transponder having a memory capable of beingprogrammed with customer order data.
 2. A container as claimed in claim1, wherein the transponder has a memory containing identity data for thecontainer.
 3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the identitydata includes a serial number.
 4. A container as claimed in claim 2,wherein the identity data includes information on the size of thecontainer.
 5. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the identitydata includes information on the make of the container.
 6. A containeras claimed in claim 1, wherein the transponder has a memory containingone of at least identity or customer order data.
 7. A container asclaimed in claim 6, wherein the transponder, in response to anactivation signal, generates an output signal based on the data in thememory.
 8. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bodycomprises a paper-based food receptacle.
 9. A container as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the body comprises a paper-based beverage receptacle.10. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body comprises aplastic cup.
 11. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bodycomprises a polystyrene cup.
 12. A container as set forth in claim 1,wherein: the body has an outside surface and an inside surface, theinside surface being adapted to contact at least one of a food and abeverage; and the transponder is connected to the outside surface of thebody.
 13. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transponderis disposed within the body.
 14. A container as set forth in claim 1,wherein the RF transponder signal relates to a type of food to be heldby the body.
 15. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the RFtransponder signal relates to a type of food to be automatically placedinto the body.
 16. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the RFtransponder signal relates to a plurality of types of food to beautomatically placed into the body.
 17. A container as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the RF transponder signal relates to a plurality oftypes of food to be sequentially placed into the body.
 18. A containeras set forth in claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of typesof food to be sequentially placed into the body comprises a condiment.19. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the RF transpondersignal relates to a type of beverage to be placed into the body.
 20. Acontainer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the RF transponder signalrelates to a quantity of beverage to be placed into the body.
 21. Acontainer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the consumable materialcomprises at least one of a food and a beverage.
 22. A container as setforth in claim 1, wherein the RF transponder is a passive responder andconstructed to receive an excitation signal, and in response emit the RFtransponder signal.
 23. A food or beverage container, comprising: a bodyconstructed to hold a consumable material; and a transponder connectedto the body, the transponder constructed to emit an RF transpondersignal to a dispenser to automatically commence dispensing of theconsumable material, the RF transponder signal having information aboutthe consumable material and wherein the transponder has a memorycontaining customer order data.
 24. A container as claimed in claim 23,wherein the customer order data includes instructions for a foodpreparer.